NBC Announces Fall 2016-17 Season Schedule

by Cindy McLennan, May 15, 2016

NBC has announced its fall line-up and is also teasing which shows to expect in the mid-season. Returning series include: The Blacklist, Blindspot, The Carmichael Show, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago PD, Grimm, Hollywood Game Night, Law & Order: SVU, Little Big Shots, Shades of Blue, Superstore and The Voice.

New shows on NBC’s fall line-up include This Is Us, Timeless, The Good Place, Great News, Trial & Error, Marlon, The Wall, Better Late Than Never, First Dates, and The New Celebrity Apprentice, hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger. New series included in the mid-season line-up are: Taken, Chicago Justice, Emerald City, Powerless, The Blacklist: Redemption, and Midnight Texas.

Here is the NBC Press release with the fall schedule:

News
May 15, 2016
NBC AUGMENTS ITS STABLE SCHEDULE WITH AMBITIOUS NEW DRAMAS, HIGH-CONCEPT COMEDIES AND UNPREDICTABLE UNSCRIPTED SERIES

Monday: Thrilling Time Travel Adventure Series “Timeless” Earns Coveted 10 P.M. Timeslot Following #1 Reality Show “The Voice” With New Coaches Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys in Ratings-Dominant Night. Tuesday: Anticipated New Drama “This Is Us” Joins a Strong Tuesday Lineup Following “The Voice” and Leading Into the 10 P.M. Timeslot Champ, “Chicago Fire.” Wednesday: Last Season’s #1 New Show in 18-49, “Blindspot” Jumpstarts the Night and Joins Powerful Police Pair “Law & Order: SVU” and “Chicago P.D.,” Which Comes Off Its Most-Watched Season Ever. Thursday: Comedy Returns in Bolstered Thursday Lineup With Sophomore Success Story “Superstore” at 8 P.M. Followed by Emmy Winner Mike Schur’s Latest, “The Good Place.” Dick Wolf’s Hospital Drama “Chicago Med” to Anchor Thursday in New Timeslot and Precedes Hit Series “The Blacklist.” Sunday: After Broadcast’s #1 Program, “Sunday Night Football,” Concludes in January, NBC Brings Back a Second Season of the #1 New Show in Total Viewers, “Little Big Shots”; the Newest Windy City Entry from Dick Wolf, “Chicago Justice,” and the return of Jennifer Lopez in “Shades of Blue.” Midseason: Spring Brings Arrival of Ambitious New Dramas “Taken,” “Midnight, Texas,” “Emerald City” and “The Blacklist: Redemption”; Freshmen Comedies “Great News,” “Trial & Error,” “Powerless” and “Marlon”; and Alternative Series “The Wall.”

NEW YORK — May 15, 2016 — Riding the momentum of a highly successful 2015-16 season, NBC announced today a new fall lineup for the 2016-17 primetime television season that builds upon a remarkably stable schedule. With an unrivaled class of five sophomore series returning to the schedule next season, NBC is introducing three highly-anticipated new series to the lineup, including powerful dramas, a smart new comedy and the introduction of a potent Thursday night NFL package, which begins Nov. 17 with great gridiron matchups.

NBC is poised to finish #1 for the full 52-week September-to-September 2015-16 primetime season in adults 18-49, to claim its third consecutive Nielsen crown. NBC is also expected to finish the traditional September-to-May primetime season within 0.1-0.2 of a point of Super Bowl-boosted CBS in adults 18-49, and will likely rank #1 in 18-49 viewers when excluding that network’s boost from Super Bowl Sunday.

NBC’s lineup during the successful 2015-16 season has included primetime’s #1 broadcast series in 18-49 and total viewers, “Sunday Night Football”; television’s #1 alternative series in 18-49 and total viewers, “The Voice”; the season’s #1 new series on the broadcast networks in 18-49, “Blindspot”; the season’s #1 new series in total viewers, “Little Big Shots”; NBC’s #1 new comedy, “Superstore”; and NBC’s most-watched first-year Thursday drama in 21 years, “Shades of Blue.”

“Coming off another winning season where we managed to substantially stabilize our entire year-round schedule, the NBC 2016 fall lineup introduces some of our best development in years. In addition to adding three new shows, we’ve moved only four existing shows to different time periods, as well as welcoming NFL football on Thursday,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “The level of creative talent and stars who come to NBC is reflective of our leadership position in broadcast television, our sophisticated and upscale approach to all genres of programming, and our stable line-up. Coming off the Rio Olympics in August, we can’t wait to get the fall underway.”

Drama highlights on the newly announced fall schedule include “This Is Us,” an emotional and provocative series from Dan Fogelman (“Crazy, Stupid, Love.”) where seemingly disparate people’s lives intersect in the most curious ways; and “Timeless,” from Eric Kripke (“Revolution”) and Shawn Ryan (“The Shield”), which features a scientist, soldier and history professor who must change the past while trying to capture a dangerous fugitive.

Ambitious new dramas that launch in midseason include “Taken,” which will air at 10 p.m. Mondays in the prime post-“Voice” timeslot following the run of the network’s new fall drama “Timeless.” “Taken” follows former Green Beret Bryan Mills (Clive Standen, “Vikings”) as he deals with a personal tragedy that shakes his world.

Other midseason dramas include “Chicago Justice,” the fourth installment of the hugely successful “Chicago” franchise, with stars Philip Winchester and Carl Weathers; “Emerald City,” a complete reimagination of “The Wizard of Oz” set in a mystical land of dark magic, lethal warriors and a bloody battle for supremacy; “The Blacklist: Redemption,” which follows undercover operative Tom Keen (Ryan Eggold) as he joins forces with the cunning Susan “Scottie” Hargrave (Famke Janssen) to take on the most dangerous assignment of his life; and “Midnight, Texas,” based on the hit book series from author Charlaine Harris (“True Blood”), about the vampires, witches, psychics and hit men who inhabit this small town.

On the comedy side, this fall Emmy Award winner Mike Schur returns to NBC with “The Good Place,” starring Kristen Bell and Ted Danson, about an ordinary woman who mistakenly finds herself in the afterlife. Midseason will bring more smart new comedies to the schedule, including the Tina Fey- and Robert Carlock-produced “Great News,” from Emmy Award-winning writer Tracey Wigfield, about a young TV producer who finds out her mom (Andrea Martin) has accepted an internship at her workplace; “Powerless” which is set in the DC Comics universe and stars Vanessa Hudgens as a “heroic” insurance adjuster specializing in coverage against damage caused by the crime-fighting superheroes; “Trial & Error,” a mockumentary following a bright-eyed New York lawyer who arrives in a quirky small Southern town to defend a professor (Emmy Award winner John Lithgow) accused of murdering his wife; and “Marlon,” loosely inspired by the real life of Marlon Wayans, an update on the classic family comedy about a father committed to co-parenting his two kids with his very-together ex-wife.

“From the expansion of the powerful ‘Chicago’ family of dramas, to the return of great comedy on Thursdays and a potent lineup of strong midseason shows, we’re continuing to expand a well-balanced programming portfolio that reaches a broad audience,” said NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke. “Our new series, integrated with an already strong lineup, give us a great chance to sustain and grow our successes of the past few years.”

Rounding out NBC’s robust schedule are big unpredictable, unscripted series such as “The Wall,” from executive producer LeBron James and hosted by Chris Hardwick, where the game centers on a colossal 40-foot wall and involves quick thinking, shrewd strategy and a little luck with giant swings of fortune and millions of dollars changing on every ball; “Better Late Than Never,” which will air following NBC’s Rio Olympics coverage in late summer, follows cultural icons Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw and George Foreman on their greatest adventure yet — the journey of a lifetime traveling across Asia; and the Ellen DeGeneres-produced and Drew Barrymore-narrated “First Dates,” where viewers can experience a couple’s first date: the promise of potential love when it goes well and the hilariously awkward moments if it crashes and burns.

And, of course, one of the most anticipated shows of the new season is the return of NBC’s “The New Celebrity Apprentice” with twice-elected governor and international movie superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger taking control of the boardroom. In its eighth season, “The New Celebrity Apprentice” moves to Los Angeles where 16 celebrities will compete for their favorite charities. Among those serving as advisors will be investment guru Warren Buffett; former Microsoft CEO and Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer; Tyra Banks, a supermodel, actress, TV host, producer, accomplished businesswoman and CEO of the Tyra Banks Company and cosmetics brand, TYRA Beauty; actress, author and entrepreneur Jessica Alba, the founder and chief creative officer of The Honest Company and Honest Beauty; and Schwarzenegger’s trusted confidante and nephew, prominent entertainment attorney Patrick Knapp Schwarzenegger.

Said Paul Telegdy, NBC Entertainment President of Alternative and Late Night Programming: “It’s difficult to imagine topping this past season when we delivered both the biggest new alternative series on television with ‘Little Big Shots’ and the biggest returning alternative series with ‘The Voice.’ To add to that, we also had huge summer successes with “America’s Got Talent’ and ‘American Ninja Warrior.’ Going forward, with ‘Better Late Than Never,’ ‘The Wall’ and ‘First Dates,’ plus the return of ‘The New Celebrity Apprentice’ — with the boardroom being run by one of the biggest stars in the world, Arnold Schwarzenegger — we can honestly say we’ve never been more excited about a new slate of alternative series than we are this year.”

Continuing NBC’s emphasis on event programming, the 2016-17 season will feature one-time-only special events, including “Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love,” the sequel to the 2015 holiday hit “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors; “Hairspray Live!,” starring Harvey Fierstein, Jennifer Hudson, Martin Short and Derek Hough; and Aaron’s Sorkin’s “A Few Good Men Live!,” which will mark NBC’s first live drama since the network began reinvigorating live programming in 2013.

“Superstore” will benefit from a special original episode that will be televised during NBC’s coverage of the 2016 Olympic Summer Games from Rio de Janeiro. Date and time of the special Olympic telecast of “Superstore” will be announced at a later date.

Said Ralph Oakley, President/CEO of Quincy Media, Inc., and Chair of the NBC Affiliate Board, “We appreciate the investment NBC has made in the upcoming broadcast season, especially the late-news lead-in time periods in the fall and enthusiastically look forward to another winning primetime season.”

NBC FALL 2016-17 SCHEDULE

(New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET)

MONDAY

8-10 P.M. — “The Voice”

10-11 P.M. — “TIMELESS”

TUESDAY

8-9 P.M. — “The Voice”

9-10 P.M. — “THIS IS US”

10-11 P.M. — “Chicago Fire”

WEDNESDAY

8-9 P.M. — “Blindspot”

9-10 P.M. — “Law & Order: SVU”

10-11 P.M. — “Chicago P.D.”

THURSDAY

8-8:30 P.M. — “Superstore”

8:30-9 P.M. — “THE GOOD PLACE”

9-10 P.M. — “Chicago Med”

10-11 P.M. — “The Blacklist”

FRIDAY

8-9 P.M. — “Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon”

9-10 P.M. — “Grimm”

10-11 P.M. — “Dateline NBC”

SATURDAY

8-10 P.M. — “Saturday Dateline Mysteries”

10-11 P.M. — “Saturday Night Live (encores)”

SUNDAY

7-8:20 P.M. — “Football Night in America”

8:20-11 P.M. — “NBC’s Sunday Night Football”

NEW DRAMAS

“THE BLACKLIST: REDEMPTION”

In this thrilling new spinoff of NBC’s breakout hit series, undercover operative Tom Keen joins forces with Susan “Scottie” Hargrave (Famke Janssen), the brilliant and cunning chief of Grey Matters, a covert mercenary organization that solves problems governments don’t dare touch. While on the hunt for Liz’s attacker, Tom secretly discovered that Scottie is actually his biological mother. Now, as they team up to employ their unique skills and resources in a dangerous world of deadly criminals, Tom begins his own covert mission to find out more about his shadowy past.

The cast includes Famke Janssen, Ryan, Edi Gathegi and Tawny Cypress.

Jon Bokenkamp and John Eisendrath serve as writers and executive producers. John Fox and John Davis also executive produce. Michael Dinner directs. Produced by John Eisendrath Productions, Flatwater Scribe, Davis Entertainment in association with Sony Pictures Television.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/the-blacklist-redemption

Facebook: Facebook.com/BlacklistRedemption

Twitter: @RedemptionNBC

Hashtag: #BlacklistRedemption

“CHICAGO JUSTICE”

Powerhouse creator Dick Wolf delivers a captivating new installment to the hit Chicago franchise. Just like their brethren in the Chicago P.D., the State’s Attorney’s dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators navigate heated city politics and controversy head-on while fearlessly pursuing justice. As they take on the city’s high stakes and often media-frenzied cases, they must balance public opinion, power struggles within the system and their unwavering passion for the law. It all starts with a gut-wrenching case when one of Chicago’s finest is shot in the line of duty.

In the blink of a tornado’s eye, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale and a K9 police dog are swept into a world far removed from our own — a mystical land of competing realms, lethal warriors, dark magic and a bloody battle for supremacy. Starring Vincent D’Onofrio (“Daredevil,” “Jurassic World”) as the guileful Wizard and directed by the visionary Tarsem Singh across three European countries, this is Oz completely reimagined — a place where familiar characters show up in fresh, unexpected ways, and where an unsuspecting young woman holds the fate of kingdoms in her hands. As Dorothy navigates this dangerous world and uncovers her true destiny, we’ll see there’s no place like… Oz.

David Schulner and Shaun Cassidy are writers and executive producers. Josh Friedman, Matthew Arnold and director Tarsem Singh also executive produce. “Emerald City” is produced by Universal Television.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/emerald-city

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCEmeraldCity

Twitter: @NBCEmeraldCity

Hashtag: #EmeraldCity

“MIDNIGHT, TEXAS”

Welcome to a place where being normal is really quite strange. From Niels Arden Oplev, the visionary director of “Mr. Robot,” and based on the hit book series from author Charlaine Harris (“True Blood”), comes a journey into a remote Texas town where no one is who they seem. From vampires and witches to psychics and hit men, Midnight is a mysterious safe haven for those who are different. As the town members fight off outside pressures from rowdy biker gangs, ever-suspicious cops and their own dangerous pasts, they band together and form a strong and unlikely family.

Monica Owusu-Breen serves as writer and executive producer. David Janollari and director Niels Arden Oplev also executive produce. “Midnight, Texas” is produced by Universal Television and David Janollari Entertainment.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/midnight-texas

From executive producer Luc Besson (“Taken,” “The Fifth Element”) comes a modern-day, edge-of-your-seat thriller that follows the origin story of younger, hungrier former Green Beret Bryan Mills (Clive Standen, “Vikings”) as he deals with a personal tragedy that shakes his world. As he fights to overcome the incident and exact revenge, Mills is pulled into a career as a deadly CIA operative, a job that awakens his very particular, and very dangerous, set of skills. In 30 years, this character became the Bryan Mills that we’ve come to love from the “Taken” films.

Sometimes life will surprise you. Starring Mandy Moore (“A Walk to Remember”), Milo Ventimiglia (“Heroes,” “Gilmore Girls”) and Sterling K. Brown (“The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story),” this refreshingly honest and provocative series follows a unique ensemble whose paths cross and their life stories intertwine in curious ways. We find several of them share the same birthday, and so much more than anyone would expect. From the writer and directors of “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” comes a smart, modern dramedy that will challenge your everyday presumptions about the people you think you know.

Dan Fogelman serves as writer and executive producer. Jess Rosenthal, Charlie Gogolak and directors John Requa and Glenn Ficarra also executive produce. “This Is Us” is produced by 20th Century Fox Television.

From Eric Kripke (“Revolution,” “Supernatural”), Shawn Ryan (“The Shield”) and the producers of “The Blacklist” comes this thrilling action-adventure series in which a mysterious criminal steals a secret state-of-the-art time machine, intent on destroying America as we know it by changing the past. Our only hope is an unexpected team: a scientist, soldier and history professor who must use the machine’s prototype to travel back in time to critical events. While they must make every effort not to affect the past themselves, they must also stay one step ahead of this dangerous fugitive. Can this handpicked team uncover the mystery behind it all and end his destruction before it’s too late?

From Michael Schur, executive producer of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Parks and Recreation” and “The Office,” comes a smart, unique new comedy that follows Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell, “House of Lies,” “Veronica Mars”), an ordinary woman who, through an extraordinary string of events, enters the afterlife where she comes to realize that she hasn’t been a very good person. With the help of her wise newfound afterlife mentor (Ted Danson, “Bored to Death,” “Cheers”), she’s determined to shed her old way of living and discover the awesome (or at least the pretty good) person within. Directed by Drew Goddard, the Oscar-nominated writer of “The Martian.”

Michael Schur serves as writer and executive producer. David Miner also executive produces. Drew Goddard directs. “The Good Place” is produced by Universal Television and 3 Arts Entertainment.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/the-good-place

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCTheGoodPlace

Twitter: @nbcthegoodplace

Hashtag: #GoodPlace

“GREAT NEWS”

Getting along with some colleagues can be rough, but working with your mom? That’s a whole other story. When Katie, an up-and-coming news producer, finds out her overbearing mom (Andrea Martin, “SCTV,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) has rejoined the workforce as an intern at the station where Katie works, it might just be the worst news ever. But, with her biggest cheerleader at her side, Katie might finally get the recognition she deserves. The laughs hit close to home in this new office comedy from executive producers Tina Fey, Robert Carlock and the producers of “30 Rock.”

Loosely inspired by the real life of star Marlon Wayans (“In Living Color,” “Scary Movie”), this update to the classic family comedy centers on a loving (but immature) father committed to co-parenting his two kids with his very-together ex-wife. While his misguided fatherly advice, unstoppable larger-than-life personality and unpredictable Internet superstardom might get in the way sometimes, for Marlon family really always does come first — even if he’s the biggest kid of all.

In the first comedy series set in the universe of DC Comics, Vanessa Hudgens (“Grease Live,” “High School Musical”) plays Emily, a spunky young insurance adjuster specializing in regular-people coverage against damage caused by the crime-fighting superheroes. It’s when she stands up to one of these larger-than-life figures (after an epic battle messes with her commute) that she accidentally becomes a cult “hero” in her own right … even if it’s just to her group of lovably quirky co-workers. Now, while she navigates her normal, everyday life against an explosive backdrop, Emily might just discover that being a hero doesn’t always require superpowers.

Ben Queen serves as writer and executive producer. Director Michael Patrick Jann (pilot) also executive produces. “Powerless” is produced by Warner Bros. Television and based on the characters from DC Comics.

In this outrageous fish-out-of-water comedy, bright-eyed New York lawyer Josh Segal heads to a tiny Southern town for his first big case. His mission? To defend an eccentric, “rollercizing” poetry professor (John Lithgow, “3rd Rock From the Sun”) accused of the bizarre murder of his beloved wife. Settling into his makeshift office behind a taxidermy shop and meeting his quirky team of local misfits, Josh suspects that winning his first big case will not be easy, especially when his client is always making himself look guilty. “Making a Murderer” can be funny!

Jeff Astrof and Matt Miller serve as writers and executive producers. Jeffrey Blitz directs. “Trial & Error” is produced by Barge Productions and Good Session Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/trial-and-error

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCTrialandError

Twitter: @trialanderror

Hashtag: #TrialAndError

NEW ALTERNATIVE SERIES

“BETTER LATE THAN NEVER”

Based on a popular Korean format, this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy/reality show follows cultural icons Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw and George Foreman on their greatest adventure yet. Deciding it’s better late than never, these four national treasures embark on the journey of a lifetime, traveling across Asia on their own with no schedule and no itinerary. The only help will come from Jeff Dye, a young tech-savvy comedian with an agenda of his own and who isn’t above leading the men off track. Each stop is packed with hilarious cultural experiences, heartwarming spectacles and unexpected twists as our legends take on this unforgettable adventure.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/better-late-than-never

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCBetterLateThanNever

Twitter: @nbcbetterlate

Hashtag: #BetterLateThanNever

“FIRST DATES”

Everyone can relate to the experience of a first date: the promise of potential love when it goes well and the hilariously awkward moments if it crashes and burns. From executive producer Ellen DeGeneres, narrated by Drew Barrymore and based on the hit U.K. format, this new series offers a voyeuristic look at a variety of real first dates happening throughout one night at the same restaurant in Chicago. The daters are of all ages, backgrounds and from across the U.S. The audience will be along for the ride in a refreshingly authentic viewing experience that plays like a real-life romantic comedy. At the end of each episode, we will find out if the participants want to see each other again for a second date or if they head back to love’s drawing board.

Ellen DeGeneres, Pam Healey, John Hesling, Anthony Dominici, Jeff Kleeman and Tim Carter executive produce. “First Dates” is produced by Shed Media and A Very Good Production.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/first-dates

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCFirstDates

Twitter: @NBCFirstDates

Hashtag: #FirstDates

“THE WALL”

Packed with drama and action, this is a game that the entire family can root for together. Executive producer LeBron James presents a challenge infused with the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, where regular people can achieve their dreams with one bounce of the ball. Hosted by comedian Chris Hardwick and set in a large glossy arena centering on the colossal 40-foot wall, the gameplay involves quick thinking, shrewd strategy and a little luck. Played by contestant pairs, this is an unpredictable journey with giant swings of fortune and millions of dollars passing through the contestants’ hands throughout the hour.

LeBron James, Andrew Glassman, Maverick Carter and Chris Hardwick executive produce. “The Wall” is produced by Glassman Media in association with SpringHill Entertainment. Glassman Media developed the series with CORE Media.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/the-wall

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCTheWall

Twitter: @NBCTheWall

Hashtag: #TheWall

What do you think? How do you like NBC’s line-up of new and returning series? Which shows do you most want to watch? Tell us.